MEDLINE Journals

    Comparison of short-course (5 days) and standard (10 days) treatment for uncomplicated cellulitis.

    Authors

    Hepburn MJ, Dooley DP, Skidmore PJ, et al. 

    Institution

    Department of Medicine, Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, Tex., USA. matthew.hepburn@det.amedd.army.mil

    Source

    Arch Intern Med 2004 Aug 9-23; 164(15) :1669-74.

    Abstract

    BACKGROUND
    Cellulitis is a condition routinely encountered in the primary care setting. No previous study has compared a short (5 days) vs standard (10 days) course of therapy of the same antibiotic in patients with uncomplicated cellulitis.
    METHODS
    We performed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to determine if 5 days of therapy has equal efficacy to 10 days of therapy for patients with cellulitis. Of 121 enrolled subjects evaluated after 5 days of therapy for cellulitis, 43 were randomized to receive 5 more days of levofloxacin therapy (10 days total antibiotic treatment), and 44 subjects to receive 5 more days of placebo therapy (5 days of total antibiotic treatment). Levofloxacin was given at a dose of 500 mg/d. Subjects were not randomized if they had worsening cellulitis, a persistent nidus of infection, a lack of any clinical improvement, or abscess formation within the first 5 days of therapy. The main outcome measure was resolution of cellulitis at 14 days, with absence of relapse by 28 days, after study enrollment.
    RESULTS
    Eighty-seven subjects were randomized and analyzed by intention to treat. There was no significant difference in clinical outcome between the 2 courses of therapy (success in 42 [98%] of 43 subjects receiving 10 days of antibiotic, and 43 [98%] of 44 subjects receiving 5 days of antibiotic) at both 14 and 28 days of therapy.
    CONCLUSION
    In patients with uncomplicated cellulitis, 5 days of therapy with levofloxacin appears to be as effective as 10 days of therapy.

    Mesh

    Analysis of Variance
    Anti-Infective Agents
    Cellulitis
    Double-Blind Method
    Drug Administration Schedule
    Female
    Humans
    Male
    Middle Aged
    Ofloxacin
    Statistics, Nonparametric

    Language

    eng

    Pub Type(s)

    Clinical Trial Comparative Study Journal Article Randomized Controlled Trial

    PubMed ID

    15302637

    Content Manager
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